Was there really any problem with using the ordinary Halo 2 Sangheili armor or, at the very least, the more varied, yet simplistic armor they wore in Halo 3? They look like some atrociously hideous, hate-sex child of a Fallen Vandal and an over-designed vacuum cleaner.

Can't really blame 343i entirely for this, of course. It was Bungie that got it into everybody's head that Sangheili armor needs to be more intricate than it should be. Sadly, the 343i design team happened and thought everything about Reach's art was as the Precursors foretold.

I miss this. It wasn't flashy, nor did it tell me anything about what they've done in past battles. The reputation of the Sangheili preceded everything, be it their armor they've donned or the weapons clutched in their hands. Really, the sole discriminating factor was the color of their armor, running the spectrum from the lightest blue to the shiniest of gold, but even then, the ferocity of the former, seemingly less experienced warrior could never be underestimated. I can barely even distinguish the Reach and Halo 4 Sangheili. With them, I fight against whatever sort of weapon they have, not the warrior themselves.